One of the unique features of the teachers’ collective bargaining agreement with the district is the ability to have liaison meetings on timely topics between the union and the board of education. In the past several months, three of these meetings were held.

            This year, a meeting for members from each school has been scheduled. The first of these meetings was held in early fall with a contingent of teachers from Lincoln Ave. Building Vice-President Melinda Moran was joined by Jen Order, Beth Bolger, Gina LoCurto and Heather Gonzalez. The second meeting addressed High

            The newest chapter of the STA was formed when the district’s board of education voted to recognize the Sayville Security Guards Chapter of the STA. Nearly every member of the group’s approximately 19 members signed cards requesting representation by the new unit.

            “Even in a situation with a school board and administration that shows respect for the employees, people feel that they need a voice at work. That is what a union can do for its members, explained STA President Tim Southerton.
            NYSUT Labor Relations Specialist Sean Callahan has been working with the

Despite years of paring down costs and looking for every way possible to reduce spending while maintaining quality programming, Governor Cuomo has called for districts to find greater “efficiencies” for the 2015-16 school year and beyond.

In response to that mandate, the district has established a committee of teachers, administrators, parents and other community stake holders to study the district spending and make recommendations.

The STA is represented on this committee by the five building vice-presidents (Christine Ricther-Seidenberg-HS, Anna Martin- MS, Mary Beth Dietrele – Sunrise Drive,

Elementary Enrichment teacher Cindy Dwyer hosted a Gifted Education Network Superintendent's Conference Day on November 4, 2014.  The event was held in the library of Cherry Avenue Elementary School, and attended by 22 teachers, representing 16  school districts across Nassau & Suffolk counties.  Mrs. Dwyer is a co-founder of the Gifted Education Network, along with Islip teacher Julia Johnson.  The mission of the Gifted Education Network is to connect teachers of Gifted Education so that they can be a resource to each other.  Often there is only one teacher in each district with a background

On Saturday, October 18, 2014, Lincoln Avenue physical education teachers Beth Bolger & Gary Jensen saw the results of their months of preparation in the smiling faces of the children of Sayville.  Over 300 elementary students participated in the Sayville Fun Run & Duathlon that they organized.  It was huge undertaking for the two physical education teachers to voluntarily take on planning and coordinating an event of this scale, but as tri-athletes themselves, both Bolger and Jensen know the importance of promoting physical activity.   

Several STA members also volunteered to assist Bolger &

STA members who suffered uninsured losses from the recent heavy rains are eligible to apply for a Long Island Teachers Benevolent Fund catastrophic grant.  For more information and an application, contact the STA office.